INDYCAR: Indy 500 Friday Practice Report

John Andretti has raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway 17 times. The 18th time will be quite an adjustment.

After being teased about using the NASCAR line instead of the customary IndyCar line around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Andretti returned to an open-wheel car at IMS for the first time since 1994 in impressive style, posting the ninth-fastest lap during a busy day of practice for the Indianapolis 500.

Andretti was clocked at 40.3895 seconds - 222.830 mph - in his first practice session in the No. 33 Panther Racing Dallara-Honda.

"I'm all over the place in Turn One, but everywhere else I feel pretty good," Andretti said. "Al (Unser) Sr. and my cousin (Michael Andretti) have been telling me I can't run the NASCAR line. I told them I don't do it on purpose. When I turn in, I'm going too fast. I can't just stop and change where I want to be."

Andretti, a nephew of Mario Andretti and cousin of Michael, has competed in the last 10 Brickyard 400s at Indy, but hasn't raced in the 500 since finishing 10th in 1994.

"I've got plenty to learn," he said. "I'll be asking a lot of questions."

Last year's winner, Sam Hornish Jr., had the fastest lap during Friday's six-hour session, which was the busiest since the track opened May 6. Thirty-one cars combined for 1,767 laps, the fastest of which was Hornish's effort of 225.006 mph in the No. 6 Team Penske Dallara-Honda.

"We feel pretty good so far, but we know we have to get it exactly right before race day," Hornish said. "There's no room for error in the Indy 500."

Others who showed speed included the group of favorites from the three biggest teams - Penske, Target Chip Ganassi and Andretti Green. Ganassi's Scott Dixon had the second fastest lap Friday - 224.458 mph - followed by AGR's Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti and Marco Andretti.

John Andretti led the list of those who have yet to qualify, followed by Roger Yasukawa, Marty Roth and Phil Giebler. Eleven cars that haven't made the field practiced Friday; the race needs another 11 qualifiers to ensure the full field of 33 cars. Roberto Moreno, who is replacing injured Stephan Gregoire in the No. 77 Chastain Motorsports Panoz-Honda, was not on track Friday.

However, 11th-hour entry Alex Barron and the No. 98 CURB/Beck Motrosports Dallara-Honda did make it onto the track.